What is the human microbiome?
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Mastering this deck provides a comprehensive understanding of the human microbiome's composition, functions, and its impact on health and disease, equipping clinicians and researchers with insights essential for developing microbiome-based therapies and diagnostics.
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| 1 | What is the human microbiome? |
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Study of the human microbiome's role in health, disease, and potential therapeutic interventions.
The human microbiome refers to the collective genomes of all the microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa) that reside in or on the human body, forming a complex ecological community. |
| Think of it as the body's microbial 'neighborhood'. |
| 2 | Which body sites are most densely populated by microbiota? | The gastrointestinal tract (especially the colon), skin, mouth, and respiratory tract are the most densely populated body sites with microbiota. | Focus on areas exposed to the environment. |
| 3 | What is microbial dysbiosis? | Dysbiosis refers to an imbalance or maladaptation in the microbial community, often associated with disease states such as inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, or infections. | Think of it as microbial 'disorder'. |
| 4 | Name two primary functions of the human microbiome. | The microbiome aids in digestion and nutrient absorption, and it plays a crucial role in immune system development and regulation. | Consider digestion and immunity. |
| 5 | How does the microbiome influence drug metabolism? | Certain gut microbes can modify drugs through enzymatic activity, affecting their efficacy and toxicity, as seen with drugs like digoxin and irinotecan. | Microbes as 'metabolic partners'. |
| 6 | What are probiotics? | Probiotics are live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to the host by restoring or maintaining healthy microbiota. | Think 'good bacteria supplements'. |
| 7 | What is the role of the microbiome in immune system development? | The microbiome trains and modulates the immune system, helping it distinguish between pathogens and harmless antigens, thus preventing autoimmune and allergic diseases. | Microbes as 'immune educators'. |
| 8 | Name a common method used to analyze the composition of the microbiome. | 16S rRNA gene sequencing is a common technique used to identify and compare bacterial populations within a sample. | Think of it as a 'microbial barcode'. |
| 9 | What is the significance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in the gut microbiome? | These two phyla dominate the gut microbiota; their relative abundance is associated with metabolic health, with alterations linked to obesity and other metabolic disorders. | Balance between 'firm' and 'bacteria'. |
| 10 | How can antibiotics affect the human microbiome? | Antibiotics can disrupt microbial diversity and composition, leading to dysbiosis, which may result in secondary infections like Clostridioides difficile or metabolic disturbances. | Antibiotics as 'microbial disruptors'. |
| 11 | What is fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)? | FMT is a procedure involving the transfer of stool from a healthy donor to a patient's gastrointestinal tract to restore healthy microbiota, primarily used to treat recurrent C. difficile infections. | Think of it as 'microbiome reboot'. |
| 12 | Which microbial component is most associated with the development of allergies? | Reduced diversity and altered composition of gut microbiota, particularly decreased abundance of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, are linked to increased allergy risk. | Diversity is key for immune tolerance. |
| 13 | Describe the concept of 'keystone species' in the microbiome. | Keystone species are microbes that have a disproportionate impact on the structure and function of the microbial community, influencing overall ecosystem health. | Microbes with outsized influence. |
| 14 | How does the skin microbiome contribute to skin health? | The skin microbiome protects against pathogens, modulates immune responses, and maintains skin barrier integrity through competitive exclusion and antimicrobial production. | Microbes as 'skin defenders'. |
| 15 | What is the impact of diet on the microbiome? | Diet influences microbiome composition and diversity; high-fiber diets promote beneficial microbes, while high-fat or processed foods may lead to dysbiosis. | Eat to 'feed' good microbes. |
| 16 | Name a disease associated with microbiome dysbiosis outside the gut. | Vaginal microbiome dysbiosis can lead to bacterial vaginosis; oral microbiome imbalance is linked to periodontal disease. | Think of 'microbial imbalance' in different body sites. |
| 17 | What is microbiome resilience? | Resilience refers to the microbiome's ability to recover its original composition after disturbance, such as antibiotic use or illness. | Microbial 'bounce-back' capacity. |
| 18 | How might microbiome research influence future therapies? | Research may lead to personalized microbiome-based interventions, including tailored probiotics, prebiotics, and microbial therapeutics for various diseases. | Microbiome as a therapeutic target. |
| 19 | What role do viruses play in the human microbiome? | Viruses, including bacteriophages, influence microbial population dynamics and horizontal gene transfer, affecting community structure and function. | Viruses as 'microbial regulators'. |
| 20 | Why is microbial diversity important for a healthy microbiome? | Greater diversity provides functional redundancy, stability, and resistance to pathogen colonization, contributing to overall health. | More diversity equals more resilience. |
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